政府提议修订 SBP 法案，允许双重国籍担任州长，使数字货币使用合法化

如果得到联邦内阁和议会的批准，加密货币和比特币等数字货币的使用可能会成为法定货币

The federal government has proposed amendments to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Act to allow dual nationals to serve as governor and deputy governors of the central bank and to legalise digital currency use in Pakistan.

联邦政府提议修订《巴基斯坦国家银行（SBP）法案》，允许双重国籍人士担任央行行长和副行长，并使数字货币在巴基斯坦的使用合法化。

If approved by the federal cabinet and then by Parliament, the use of cryptocurrencies and digital currencies like Bitcoin could become legal tender — a shift from the SBP's traditionally cautious stance on such currencies.

如果得到联邦内阁和议会的批准，加密货币和比特币等数字货币的使用可能会成为法定货币——这改变了瑞士央行对此类货币传统上的谨慎立场。

Government sources told Dawn that the finance ministry has proposed around a dozen amendments to the SBP Act, which the Ministry of Law has vetted. A summary has been sent to the federal cabinet for approval, signalling a shift in the government's approach to financial policy.

政府消息人士告诉《黎明报》，财政部已对 SBP 法案提出了大约十几项修正案，并已得到法务部的审查。一份摘要已送交联邦内阁批准，这标志着政府金融政策方针的转变。

The proposed amendments would allow dual nationals to serve as governor, deputy governors and non-executive directors on the central bank's board, sources said.

消息人士称，拟议的修正案将允许双重国籍人士担任央行董事会的行长、副行长和非执行董事。

This restriction was initially imposed in January 2022, following broad amendments to the SBP Act, which were influenced by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the preferences of the former governor. Notably, however, the IMF did not specifically advise the restriction on dual nationals.

这一限制最初于 2022 年 1 月实施，此前受到国际货币基金组织 (IMF) 和前行长偏好的影响，对 SBP 法案进行了广泛修订。但值得注意的是，国际货币基金组织并未具体建议对双重国籍的限制。

The government has proposed an amendment to Section 13 of the SBP Act, which addresses the disqualification of the governor, deputy governors, directors and members. The current clause disqualifies any person holding dual nationality from serving in these roles. The new amendment proposes to remove the term "having dual nationality" from this section, effectively lifting the restriction.

政府已提议对《SBP 法》第 13 条进行修正案，其中涉及取消行长、副行长、董事和成员资格的问题。目前的条款取消了任何拥有双重国籍的人担任这些职务的资格。新修正案建议从该条中删除“具有双重国籍”一词，从而有效解除限制。

One of the SBP's deputy governors, Dr Inayat Husain, who is a dual national, is completing his term on November 8. Given his experience and significant role within the SBP, the government is reportedly interested in retaining him for a new five-year term. When Dr Husain was originally appointed, there was no restriction on dual nationals.

SBP 的一名副行长 Inayat Husain 博士拥有双重国籍，将于 11 月 8 日完成任期。鉴于他的经验和在 SBP 中的重要作用，据报道，政府有兴趣保留他新的五年任期。侯赛因博士最初被任命时，对双重国籍没有任何限制。

Last month, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb stated there was a limited pool for top positions, suggesting that the ineligibility condition might need revision.

上个月，财政部长穆罕默德·奥朗则布表示，高级职位的人才库有限，这表明可能需要修改资格条件。

"We may need to bring a few things back to Parliament, particularly regarding nationality," he said during a Senate Standing Committee on Finance meeting.

他在参议院财政常设委员会会议上表示：“我们可能需要将一些事情带回议会，特别是有关国籍的问题。”

By November 8, two of the three deputy governor positions could become vacant unless the government acts quickly to appoint replacements and amend the law. Dr Inayat Husain and former IMF Senior Advisor Dr Saeed Ahmad — both holding dual nationality or foreign-origin cards — are leading candidates for these positions.

到 11 月 8 日，除非政府迅速采取行动任命替代者并修改法律，否则三个副省长职位中的两个可能会空缺。伊纳亚特·侯赛因 (Inayat Husain) 博士和国际货币基金组织前高级顾问赛义德·艾哈迈德 (Saeed Ahmad) 博士（均持有双重国籍或外国血统卡）是这些职位的主要候选人。

Under current law, the federal government appoints deputy governors based on recommendations from the SBP governor, in consultation with the finance minister, following a list of candidates presented in order of merit.

根据现行法律，联邦政府根据 SBP 行长的建议，与财政部长协商，根据候选人名单按功绩任命副行长。

Legalising digital currency

数字货币合法化

The proposed amendments introduce, for the first time, the concept of digital currency in the SBP Act. Sources said that until now, the SBP had consistently rejected digital currency proposals and even issued public advisories warning against their use.

拟议的修正案首次在 SBP 法案中引入了数字货币的概念。消息人士称，到目前为止，SBP 一直拒绝数字货币提案，甚至发布公共建议，警告不要使用数字货币。

The proposed amendments define digital currency as "a digital form of currency issued by the bank under section 24 as legal tender under section 25." Section 24 authorises the SBP to issue banknotes, which are recognised as legal tender under section 25.

拟议的修正案将数字货币定义为“银行根据第 24 条发行的数字形式的货币，作为第 25 条规定的法定货币”。第 24 条授权 SBP 发行纸币，根据第 25 条，纸币被承认为法定货币。

Additionally, an amendment to section 4C, which defines the SBP's functions, proposes granting the central bank the authority to issue digital currency. This change would allow the SBP to manage Pakistan's currency "in physical or digital or both forms." The SBP also intends to establish a subsidiary to develop and operate digital payment systems.

此外，对第 4C 条的修订定义了 SBP 的职能，建议授予中央银行发行数字货币的权力。这一变化将使巴基斯坦央行能够“以实物或数字或两种形式”管理巴基斯坦货币。 SBP 还打算成立一家子公司来开发和运营数字支付系统。

The amendments to section 17 authorise the SBP to conduct "central bank digital currency" business, and similar changes are suggested for section 24.

第17条的修正案授权SBP开展“央行数字货币”业务，第24条也建议进行类似的修改。

Previously, the SBP had issued public advisories warning the public about virtual currencies like Bitcoin, Litecoin, Pakcoin, One Coin, Das Coin, Pay Diamond and others, clarifying that these tokens were not recognised as legal tender in Pakistan. The central bank highlighted concerns about the anonymity associated with virtual currencies, which it warned could facilitate illegal activities, and noted the lack of legal protection in cases of loss.

此前，SBP 曾发布公共咨询，警告公众注意比特币、莱特币、Pakcoin、One Coin、Das Coin、Pay Diamond 等虚拟货币，并澄清这些代币在巴基斯坦不被视为法定货币。央行强调了对与虚拟货币相关的匿名性的担忧，警告称虚拟货币可能会促进非法活动，并指出在发生损失时缺乏法律保护。

The new amendments also propose a penalty for unauthorised digital currency issuance. Anyone found issuing digital currency illegally would be fined an amount equal to twice the value of the illegal issuance.

新修正案还提出对未经授权发行数字货币进行处罚。任何人发现非法发行数字货币，将被处以非法发行金额两倍的罚款。

Expanding SBP board powers

扩大 SBP 董事会权力

The proposed amendments would also expand the SBP board's powers in approving financial reports. The existing subsection (d) of section 9A would be extended to cover the approval of the SBP's annual report, half-yearly report, reports on the state of the economy, the financial stability report, and financial statements of banks.

拟议的修正案还将扩大 SBP 董事会批准财务报告的权力。第 9A 条现有的 (d) 小节将扩展至涵盖 SBP 年度报告、半年度报告、经济状况报告、金融稳定报告和银行财务报表的批准。

Changes to section 9B, which pertains to SBP board meetings, are also proposed. The amendments would allow the board chairperson or three non-executive directors to call a meeting, where previously a "member" was required to do so. This change aims to clarify governance processes.

还提议对与 SBP 董事会会议有关的第 9B 节进行修改。修正案将允许董事会主席或三名非执行董事召集会议，而以前需要“成员”才能召开会议。这一变化旨在澄清治理流程。